Animal-trap.



TV. 1. ELLISON.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1912.

1,066,004, Patented July 1, 1913.

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T; J. ELLISON. ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.12, 1912.

1,066,004. Patented Ju ly 1, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A/toruey COLUMBIA PLANcuRAPH (10.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. ELLISON, TERRILL, KENTUCKY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. ELLISON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Terrill, in the county ofMadison and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traps which are automatically reset afterbeing sprung, and thus set for the next animal.

The trap has two compartments, the first one to be entered by the animalcontaining a tilting platform which serves as a closure for saidcompartment and also as a means for opening the door of the secondcompartment. Thus when the animal enters the first compartment theentrance thereto is closed and the door to the second compartment opens,and after the animal passes into the second compartment said door closesand the entrance to the first compartment opens and the trap is reset.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novelconstruction and arrange ment of tilting platform and other partsassociated therewith, whereby the herein described operation is efiectedwithout liability of failure, and also to provide a structure which isdevoid of complicated parts to get out of order.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of the trap showing the same set. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing the parts in another position. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line44 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the body of the trap may be constructed ofwire as shown, the same comprising a top, a bottom, sides, and front andrear ends arranged to form a rectangular inclosure. In this inclosureare two longitudinal partitions 11 extending from the front end andterminating some distance from the rear end of the inclosure. Thesepartitions extend between the top and bottom of the inclosure and attheir rear ends the space therebetween is closed by a transverse wall12. The part-itions 11 and wall 12 form a compartment which is cut offentirely from the remainder of the inclosure except for an opening inthe wall 12 which is controlled by a door 13. The space within theinclosure surround- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 12, 1912.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Patented Julyl, 1913.

Serial No. 736,365.

ing the compartment forms a second compartment to receive and confinethe trapped animals. In the front wall of the inclosure is an opening 14through which access is had into the first-mentioned compartment On thebottom or floor of the inclosure, between the partitions 11, is mounteda plate 15 having upstanding flanges 16 at its longitudinal edges,formed by bending up the plate. Above this plate is mounted a tiltingplatform which is hinged on a rod 17 extending transversely between theflanges 16 and passing through upstanding flanges 18 on the longitudinaledges of the platform. The platform comprises front and rear portions 19and 20, respectively, which are angularly disposed to one another, thehinge or pivot being at the angle. The front end of the platform swingsup and down across the opening 14, and the opposite end of the platformis located to swing up and down in front of the door 13.

On that side of the door 13 which is opposite the end of the rearportion 20 of the platform is an outstanding flange 21 the outer edge ofwhich is inclined, and at the bottom of the flange is a shoulder 22forming an abutment adapted to be engaged by the platform as will bepresently described.

In the compartment formed by the partitions 11 is a depending rod 23having a notch 24 near its lower end. This rod is loosely suspended fromthe top ofthe inclosure and is designed to lock the platform in setposition. The part 20 of the platform has an opening 25 over which ispivoted a trigger plate 26 having a bent up tongue 27 provided with anaperture 28 through which the rod passes, the edge of the aperture beingdesigned to engage the notch 24. The plate 26 has trunnions 26projecting from its longitudinal edges, which trunnions extend intoapertures in the flanges 18, and thus form the pivot of said plate.

Above the door 18, the wall 12 carries a bait compartment 29 whichincloses the bait so that the animals cannot get to it to destroy it.

The rear wall of the trap has a door 30 for removal of the trappedanimals, and to the top of the trap is connected a bail 31 for carryingthe same.

Fig. 1 shows the trap set. The front end 19 of the platform is down,which leaves the entrance 14 open and unobstructed so that the animalmay enter. The rear portion 20 of the platform extends upward at aninclination and is in contact with the inclined edge of the door flange21 near the top thereof. The trigger 27 engages the notch 24. The rat orother animal, attracted by the bait in the compartment 29, enters thetrap through the opening 1% and passes along the front portion of theplatform and up the inclined rear portion thereof in its effort to getat the bait. hen the animal steps on the plate 26, the same tilts andreleases the trigger 27, whereupon the plat form is released and itsrear portion tilts down. When the platform tilts as stated, it slidesdown the flange 21 and its end comes under the shoulder 22. The frontportion of the platform has tilted upward to close the entrance 1 1-,and the platform is now locked in this position. The animal now has itsescape cut 0E and can pass only into the second compartment through thedoor 13, which is hinged at the top and swings open into saidcompartment. When the animal passes through the door 13, the shoulder 22swings away from the edge of the platform, and the latter tilts back toits normal position, its rear end rising, and its front end droppingdown to open the entrance 14. At the same time the trigger again locksthe platform, and the trap is now reset for the next animal. The frontend of the platform is slightly heavier than its rear end so that itwill always swing to set position when the door 13 swings open.

A trap constructed as herein described is reliable and efiicient inoperation, and it has no complicated parts to get out of or der. Afterthe trap is baited and initially set, its operation thereafter isentirely automatic.

I claim:

1. An animal trap comprising a compartment having an entrance, a secondcom: partment, a door controlling the animals passage from the firstcompartment into the second compartment, a platform in the firstcompartment and tiltable to open and close the entrance, a trigger,means engageable by the trigger for holding the platform in position toleave the entrance open, a plate pivoted to the platform and carryingthe trigger, and means on the door and releasable by the opening thereoffor locking the platform in position to close the entrance.

2. An animal trap comprising a compartment having an entrance, a secondcompartment, a door controlling the animals passage from the firstcompartment into the second compartment, a platform in the firstcompartment and tiltable to open and close the entrance, a rod dependinginto the first compartment and having a notch, a trigger engageable withthe notch for holding the platform in position to leave the entranceopen, a plate pivoted to the platform and carrying the trigger, andmeans on the door and releasable by the opening thereof for locking theplatform in position to close the entrance.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. ELLISON.

Vitnesses S. P. DEATHERAGE, S. S. PAnKns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

